§ Mr. Fortescueasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the gross and net cost of increasing family allowances by 10s. for the second and subsequent child using the claw-back method to limit the increase to those paying less than the standard rate of tax.
§ Mr. EnnalsDisregarding consequential effects on other social security 163W benefits the gross and net costs for 1969–70 would have been about £180 million and £30 million, respectively.
Retirement Pensions and Social Security Benefits
Mr. Arthur Lewis asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the fact that during the past few months most sections of the population have had large increases in wages and salaries, he will now increase retirement pensions and all social security benefits by a minimum of 35 per cent.
§ Mr. EnnalsNo. I would remind my hon. Friend that Social Security benefits have increased by between one-fifth and one-sixth in real terms since the present Government took office in October, 1964, that total expenditure on these benefits is now half as much again in real terms as it was in 1964–65.